The core truth of the Christianity is very simple. Among many doctrines is one ultimate principle in the very centre and the Bible teaches that the only reason why human beings live is to glorify God (1Cor 6:20, 10:31). As you learn and grow in the Biblical truths and traditional doctrines you will realize that all of them are oriented toward the glory of God. But it is so difficult to rush forward to the pinnacle in a jiffy. It so requires time, effort, sacrifice, and sometimes more price than them, that we need “comfort.”
Why comfort? But be still for a moment and think about this. Would there be people in the world who do not need any comfort in their lives? Men or women, the rich or the poor, the learned or the ignorant, the strong or the feeble, no matter what: our life is a series of anguish and hardship coming to no end. We usually think that it is only those who have less wealth or health who need comfort. But if you look more closely into people’s lives you will understand right away that everyone is just pursuing certain types of comfort that they need. Money, fame, power, or knowledge, you name it: these are all sorts of comfort of their own that they believe would fill their emptiness.
Okay! That granted, would those who own much money need no comfort? They would need comfort of more money. Or keeping all the money they have could be their comfort. It is completely the case with power, fame, health and knowledge. Different kinds and different directions, but they always look for something to comfort them, to fill their hollowness like a moth zooming to a flame.
We can come to a conclusion from this that human beings exist empty. And that emptiness comes from the ultimate fear that we would lose everything we have in death. That explains why we try to get something so desperately. We all want to shake the fear off by obtaining this and that while living. In other words, one is inevitably led by that driving force, which we call “comfort,” to overcome the fear of death. But whatever endeavour we make will not fade the fear away unless the root is eradicated. They cannot be fundamental comfort, but just a pain killer or a sleeping pill. When awake, however, the pain gets even worse.
The true comfort, therefore, should set you free from all this fundamental fear and emptiness. That is what the Lord promises people. And what He wants from them based on this promise is to have them glorify Him. So our confession asks us first of all, “what is your only comfort in life and death?” And we answer as follows: “That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil. He also preserves me in such a way that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit he also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for him.”